Outdoor burning rules in Chesapeake, VA — also called the burn ban, open burning, or fire restriction ordinance — set when you can burn yard waste, debris, or run a recreational fire.
Chesapeake outdoor burning follows the Virginia 4 PM Burn Law (VA Code 10.1-1142). From Feb 15 to April 30, open burning within 300 feet of woodland is prohibited before 4 PM. Chesapeake Fire may add stricter local bans.
Virginia Department of Forestry enforces the iconic 4 PM Burn Law statewide during spring fire season. In Chesapeake, from February 15 to April 30, it is illegal to burn brush or any flammable material before 4 PM when the fire is within 300 feet of woodland, brushland, or fields containing dry grass or flammable material. Fires must be fully extinguished before midnight. Even outside this window, Chesapeake requires burning to be supervised with suppression tools on hand and prohibits burning household trash, leaves, or construction debris. During declared burn bans issued by VDOF or the Chesapeake Fire Marshal during drought, all open burning may be suspended. Air quality advisories from Virginia DEQ can also halt burning. Agricultural burning on working farms has limited exemptions.
Violation of 4 PM law is a Class 3 misdemeanor under VA Code 10.1-1142, fine up to $500 plus fire suppression costs if the fire escapes.
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See how Chesapeake's outdoor burning rules stack up against other locations.
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